Electric fixation of gases



G.T. SOUTHGATE.

ELECTRIC FIXATION 0F GASES.

APPLICATION HLEUAPR. 11, 191s.

Patented Feb. 2i?, 1921.

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ELECTRIC FIXATION F GASES.A

Application led April 11, 1918.

v Fixation of Gases; and I do -hereby declare thefollowing -to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an apparatus for` the electric fixation of atmospheric nitrogen.

In carrying out my invention I make use of an electric arc.

One object of my invention is to produce a very intimate contact with the arc of the whole of the gas or gases subjected to its iniuence.

Another object of my invention is to produce a very quick chilling of the gas or gases after they have been subjected to the influence of the arc, so that the compound formed may be quickly changed from .its unstable high-temperature condition to a lower temperaturebefore dissociation has taken place to an appreciable extent.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for controlling the pressure in the reaction chamber so as to secure the greatest output of the compound with the lowest energy consumption.

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure in which the electrodes may be readily changed and the spark gap made of any suitable length so as to be suitable for use with any voltage, or with a hissing or silent discharge.

Another object of my invention is to se-A cure the highest continuous oxidation of the nitrogen by suitable introduction of part or all the oxygen within the reaction chamber, together with the nitrogen, and by the activation of the gases through raising them to a high temperature, and also through electric ionization.

Another object of my invention isto provide means for the immediate scavenging of the gases afterthe have been acted upon in the reaction cham' er.

Another object of my invention is to provide means for using the heat of the compound during its passage from the reactionJ chamber to pre-heat some of the gas before its admission to said chamber.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 22, 1921..

Serial No. 227,975.

The means by which I attain the foregoing objects will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

In the electric fixation of atmospheric nltrogen, 1t 1s very desirable to cool the compound immediately after it has been sub- ]ected to the infiuence of the electric arc and heretofore this rapid cooling has been effectedby mixing cool air with the compound emerging from the field of action of said arc, or else by passing said compound through a tube chilled by a water jacket, but by the use of my improved apparatus and process, the necessity for the diluted air is obviated and the emerging gases are chilled in a much more etlicient manner than is possible by the use of a water cooled tube.

rl `he drawing shows one form of my improved apparatus in central vertical section.

In the drawing:

1 is the casing of the reaction chamber 2.

Said casing is preferably formed of insulating material and shaped as shown in the drawing approximately in the shape of an oblate spheroid provided on one side with the eduction tube 3.

Any approved form of apparatus for reducing the pressure in the chamber 2 is to be attached tothe tube 3 and operated in any approved manner so as to van, l` said pressure to any desired extent.

The particular form of apparatus for reducing the pressure in the chamber 2 forms no part ofmy present invention.

Thejaxis of the casing 2 is preferably vertical and there are formed at the bottom and top tapered electrode seats 1 -4 which terminate in hollow cylindrical sleeves 5 5 which are threaded as at 6 6.

Cylindrical caps 7 7 provided with cylindrical threaded extensions 8 8 are screwed upon the threaded portions 6 6 of thc sleeves 5 5, and main induction tubes 9 9 are connected to the extensions 8 8 by means of the couplings 10-10. Buttery vaives 11 1 are mounted in the induction tubes 9 9 in any approved manner and provided with handles 12-12 on the outside of said tubes by means of whichv the valves 3.1 11 may be set in any desired position.

The caps 7 7, tubes 9 9 and couplings l0 10 are preferably formed of metal.

Cylindrical electrodes 13 13 provided with tapered ends 14--14 are mounted upon the auxiliary induction tubes 1.5-15, bushtween said electrodes and said tubes. Metallic terminals l7 17 provided with tabs 18-18 are fitted snugly around the tapered ends 14-14 of the electrodes 13. Said electrodes are made to fit snugly within the tapered electrode seats 4 4 and conductors 19 19 are connected to the tabs l8 18 and pass through gas-tight bushings 20-20 which are fixed in the walls of the sleeves 5 5.

The electrodes 13 13 may be formed of any porous material -in which the pores run substantially parallel to the axes of the tubes l5 15, and I have found that willow charcoal is especially suitable for this work, when the gases employed do not readily combine therewith, care being taken that when the electrodes are formed the pores in said charcoal shall be parallel with the axes of said electrodes'.

The tubes 15-15 are preferably formed of fused silica.

The diffuserl 2l is provided with cylindrical ends 22-22 which fit snugly within the interior of the tubes 15-15 and with an enlarged cylindrical portion 23. The diffuser 2l is provided with the cylindrical hole 24 passing entirely through the center thereof.

The diffuser 21 is formed of porous material and is preferably formed of material in which the pores shall be transverse to the axis of said diffuser.

I preferably form the diHuser 21 by securing together in any approved manner a plurality of laminae of willow-wood, when the gases employed do not readily combine therewith, said laminae being mutually disposed so that the directions of the pores in said laminae shall be at equal angular distances apart.

After said laminae are secured together as just described, the hole 24 is to be bored, the ends thereof preferably rounded as shown at 25 25 and the ends 22 and enlarged portion 28 turned to size. The diffuser 21 is then to be carbonized and is ready for use.

It is evident that the tubes 15 15 may be slipped through the packing 16-16 so as to firmly clamp the diffuser 2l between the ends of said tubes.

The tubes 15 15 extend outwardly thropgh7 the holes 2(5 26 provided in the cap The tubes 9 9 and 15 15 are to be connected to any sources of gas that it is desired to operate upon; for instance, I may introduce oxygen only through the tubes 9 9 and nitrogen through the-tubes 15 15, or vice versa; or I may introduce air through the tubes 9 9 and also through the tubes l5 15; or I ma introduce air through the tubes 9 9 an oxygen through the tubes l5 15 or vice versa; or I may introduce oxygen through the tubes 15-15 and inverted air consisting of a mixture of four molecules of oxygen and one molecule of nitrogen through the tubes 9 9 or vice versa. Hence, it is evident that` by usin the main induction tubes 9 and the auxi iary induction tubes l5, I may introduce any gas through either pair of tubes or any combination of gases through either pair of tubes.

It is also to be noted that the streams of gas or gases which pass through the tubes 9 9 pass through the pores in the electrodes 13 13 in the direction of the axes of said electrodes, and that the streams of gas or gases which pass through the tubes 15-15 are ejected through the transverse pores of the diffuser 2l, and thus surround said diffuser with a region of outwardly moving gas streams 26. The gas streams 26 striking the gas streams coming through the longitudinal pores of the electrodes 13 13 bend the latter gas streams approximately into the form shown at 27 27. The conductors 19-19 are to be connected to any suitable source of electricity and an are takes place between the abuttingfaces of the electrodes 13 13.

The arc between said electrodes is caused to spread outwardly by the gas streams 26 so that said arc approximately follows the course of the gas streams 27 27.

It is evident that I may connect to the conductors 19-19 any suitable source of electricity, either direct or alternating current, of` any potential and the latter current being of any frequency, but I preferably use an alternating current of a suitable potential and a high frequency because of the greater stabilit of the arc and the equal and uniform high temperature of the electrodes obtained thereby.

I have adopted the structure shown in the drawing and herein described because I find that a vertical arc is more stable and effective than arcs in other directions. I also find that it is advisable to activate both the oxygen and nitrogen and I attribute the improved result thereby obtained to the fact that the ozone formed is an importantl factor in the oxidation of nitrogen. f

I also find that the percentages of the two elements that are combined increases with' the temperature of the gases and that oxidation is effective with relatively less heat than at lower temperatures. I therefore prefer to have the gases at a high temperature during the instant when combination takes place and I then immediately reduce the temperature of the compound to prevent dissociation. I also find that formation of gaseous ions in my peculiar form of arc greatly aids in producing the compound.

I also find that by reducing the pressure in the reaction chamber 2 a greater percentage of compound is produced.

The operation of my improved apparatus is as follows The apparatus for reducing the pressure in tht chamber 2 being operated and the source of electricity connected to the conductors 19-19, the proper gases are permitted to'iiow through the tubes 9 9 and 15-15. The gases flowing through the tubesv 15-15 will stream outwardly as at 26, as before explained, and the streams at 26 will move with a velocity dependent upon the friction the gas encounters in the tubes 15-15, in the pores of the diiuser 2l and upon the diierence between the pressure of the gas in the tubes 15 15 andthe compound in the chamber 2.

rlhe gas streams passing through the tubes 9 9 will pass longitudinally through the pores in the electrodes 13 13 in the same direction as the electric current and will follow the paths shown as at 27 27 under the iniiuence of the gas streams 26. rlhe electric arc will also follow the path of the streams 27 27 and thus the gases in said streams are heated to a high temperature and subjected at the same time to electric ionization and thus the combination of the oxy en and nitrogenis formed.

l en the gas streams shown at 27 27 reach approximately the middle of the reaction chamber 2 they are subjected to the outwardly owing streams 26 of cool gas or gases which come through the tubes 15-15 and are immediately chilled thereby below the point at which dissociation of the com pound can take place.

It is to be noted that the tubes 9 9 are arranged to lie adjacent to the eduction tube 3 so that the'heat of the gases passing through the latter serve to pre-heat the gas passing through the former.

It is also to be noted that the velocity of the gas streams passing through the tubes 9 9 may be regulated by turning the butteriiyvalves l1-ll, and thus the quantity of gas passing through the electrodes 13 13 may be regulated to such an amount as can be readily chilled by the gas or gases passing through the diii'user 21.

It is also to be noted that the apparatus which is used for producing a suction in the eduction tube 3 serves to remove the compound as the same is formed and the ingress of gas throu h the main induction tubes 9 and the auxiliary tubes 15 serves to scavenge the reaction chamber.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for the electriclixation of gases, the combination 'with a reaction chamber, and. a gas eduction tube connected'thereto, or" porous electrodes in said chamber, conductors connected to said electrodes and extending to the outside of said. chamber, and gas induction tubes connected to said electrodes and delivering gas therethrou h.

2. n an apparatus for the electric fixation of gases, the combination with a reaction chamber, and a gas eduction tube connected thereto, of willow charcoal electrodes in said chamber, conductors, connected to said electrodes and extending to the outside of said chamber, and gas induction tubes connected to said electrodes and delivering gas therethrough.

3. In an apparatus for the electric xation of gases, the combination with a reaction chamber, and a gas eduction tube connected thereto, of porous electrodes in said chamber, conductors connected to said electrodes and extending to the outside of said chamber, gas induction tubes connected to said electrodes and delivering gas therethrough, a orous diffuser mounted between said electro es and gas induction tubes connected to said diiuser and delivering gas therethrough.

4. In an apparatus for the electric iixation of gases, the combination with a reaction chamber, and a gas eduction tube connected thereto, of willow charcoal electrodes in said chamber, conductors connected to said electrodes and extending to the outside of said'chamber, gas induction tubes connected to said electrodes and delivering gas therethrough, a porous diffuser mounted between said electrodes and gas induction tubes connected to said diuser and delivering gas therethrough.

5. In an apparatus for the electric fixa- Ition of atmospheric nitrogen, the combination with'a reaction chamber and a gas eduction tube connected thereto, porous electrodes mounted in said chamber, electrical and gas connections to said electrodes and an electrical current and streams of gas or gases passing through said electrodes.

6. In an apparatus for the electric xation of atmospheric nitrogen, the combination with a reaction chamber and a gas eduction @tube connected thereto, porous electrodes mounted in said chamber, electrical and gas connections to said electrodes, an electrical current and streams of gas or gases passing through said electrodes, a diuser, gas connections to said diuser and a stream of gas or gases passing through said diuser.

In an apparatus for the electric fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, the combination with a reaction chamber and a jgas 'eduction tube connected' thereto, oppositely disposed threaded sleeves provided with a central opening` formed on said chamber,-

porous electrodes mounted in said openings, electrical connections to said electrodes extending to the outside of said chamber, caps screwed on said sleeves and induction tubes' connected to said caps.

8. In an apparatus for the electric fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, the combination with a reaction chamber and a gas eduction tube connected thereto, oppositely disposed threaded sleeves provided with a central opening formed on said chamber, porous electrodes mounted in said openings, electrical connections to said electrodes extending to the outside of said chamber, caps screwed on said sleeves, a diiuser mounted between said electrodes and gas'connections to said di'user passing through said cap.

9. In an apparatus `for the electric fixation of atmospheric nitrogen, the combina tion with a reaction chamber and a gas eduction tube'connected thereto, of porous electrodes in said chamber,'conductors connected to said electrodes and extending to the outside of said chamber, gas induction tubes connected to said electrodes and delivering gas therethrough, a `porous difuser mounted between said' electrodes, gas induction tubes connected to said diffuser and delivering gas therethrough, and means for regulating the ow of gas to said difuser.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

GEO. T. soUTHGATE. 

